Pandoro di Verona is one of the most beloved Christmas desserts in Italy, famous for its unique shape and soft dough. Its official history begins the 14 October 1894, an important date for the Italian confectionery tradition, when Domenico Melegatti obtained the patent for Pandoro. However, the roots of this dessert are much older, and its evolution is linked not only to the Veronese gastronomic tradition, but also to art. The star shape of Pandoro, in fact, owes much to the work of a Veronese impressionist painter, Angelo Dall'Oca Bianca, who contributed to giving the dessert its characteristic shape.
The origins of Pandoro: the history
Pandoro was officially born in 1894, but its history dates back centuries. The dessert seems to derive from local traditions, in particular from “Nadalin”, a typical dessert from the city of Verona, similar but less known outside the region. Nadalin, characterized by a soft and leavened dough, is considered one of the ancestors of Pandoro. But the origins of the famous dessert are also linked to the “pan de oro” of Venice, another dessert that shares with Pandoro the richness of the ingredients and the soft consistency. Some historians argue that Pandoro may have more distant roots, even in “Vienna Bread”, but whatever its origins, a common trait of these desserts is the extraordinary softness of the dough, which has become one of the distinctive signs of Veronese Pandoro.
The Melegatti patent and the star shape
After the patent, the company Melegatti granted exclusive rights to the production and sale of Pandoro, allowing the cake to establish itself as a symbol of the Italian Christmas tradition. Melegatti did not just create a new recipe for a soft and tasty cake, but also added a fundamental artistic touch: the eight-pointed star shape of Pandoro, which is today one of its most recognizable characteristics. This design was conceived and drawn by Angelo Dall'Oca Bianca, an impressionist painter from Verona, whose artistic intervention transformed Pandoro into a cake that not only satisfies the palate, but also fascinates for its aesthetics. The star shape of Pandoro in fact recalls the idea of a snowflake, evoking the magic of Christmas, and represents one of the rare occasions in which a traditional cake was also conceived as a true work of art.
Despite the competition, Pandoro Melegatti has always been the symbol of artisanal excellence, inextricably linked to the city of Verona. Even today, the Melegatti company continues to produce the cake, keeping alive the tradition and authenticity of the cake that has marked the history of Italian pastry making.
Today, Pandoro is a dessert that, starting from Verona, has conquered the hearts of all Italians and beyond, becoming an unmistakable protagonist of Christmas.
Leave a comment (0)